diff --git a/hw/an5206.c b/hw/an5206.c
index 29812631e71700d8802b83ec39ee00d5f7820aef..862d0cf7289fc527d4fbc02431cba880ab962b91 100644
--- a/hw/an5206.c
+++ b/hw/an5206.c
@@ -92,4 +92,5 @@ QEMUMachine an5206_machine = {
     .desc = "Arnewsh 5206",
     .init = an5206_init,
     .ram_require = 512,
+    .max_cpus = 1,
 };
diff --git a/hw/boards.h b/hw/boards.h
index 119c2f60cd169a2fc984fec25f6e972dd6e616dd..d30c0fced9485f93740fd7609945051a80a83ceb 100644
--- a/hw/boards.h
+++ b/hw/boards.h
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ typedef struct QEMUMachine {
     ram_addr_t ram_require;
     int nodisk_ok;
     int use_scsi;
+    int max_cpus;
     struct QEMUMachine *next;
 } QEMUMachine;
 
diff --git a/hw/dummy_m68k.c b/hw/dummy_m68k.c
index fc06e9cc88f638d56b38ba92bdbe71eafea8616c..f7a80afcf9a9df3acd3464cfc5536a5b120ff33e 100644
--- a/hw/dummy_m68k.c
+++ b/hw/dummy_m68k.c
@@ -66,4 +66,5 @@ QEMUMachine dummy_m68k_machine = {
     .name = "dummy",
     .desc = "Dummy board",
     .init = dummy_m68k_init,
+    .max_cpus = 1,
 };
diff --git a/hw/etraxfs.c b/hw/etraxfs.c
index 4d3f694eda5822298b0ac1f13866725e08275070..2987c8f717ee2d7cbc2192289aa03000007d9e13 100644
--- a/hw/etraxfs.c
+++ b/hw/etraxfs.c
@@ -145,4 +145,5 @@ QEMUMachine bareetraxfs_machine = {
     .desc = "Bare ETRAX FS board",
     .init = bareetraxfs_init,
     .ram_require = 0x8000000,
+    .max_cpus = 1,
 };
diff --git a/hw/gumstix.c b/hw/gumstix.c
index 29cd69df24fdd941aecd2795c5b8a413ccf08539..f184648e5637f529b242003aa542fb6e25e3458a 100644
--- a/hw/gumstix.c
+++ b/hw/gumstix.c
@@ -126,6 +126,7 @@ QEMUMachine connex_machine = {
     .desc = "Gumstix Connex (PXA255)",
     .init = connex_init,
     .ram_require = (0x05000000 + PXA2XX_INTERNAL_SIZE) | RAMSIZE_FIXED,
+    .max_cpus = 1,
 };
 
 QEMUMachine verdex_machine = {
@@ -133,4 +134,5 @@ QEMUMachine verdex_machine = {
     .desc = "Gumstix Verdex (PXA270)",
     .init = verdex_init,
     .ram_require = (0x12000000 + PXA2XX_INTERNAL_SIZE) | RAMSIZE_FIXED,
+    .max_cpus = 1,
 };
diff --git a/hw/integratorcp.c b/hw/integratorcp.c
index 779d46b70ed7422ce00958dfe9763141c492ab5c..1ae5d2a8335745864cd5dbd61c976c1d47cbb4d5 100644
--- a/hw/integratorcp.c
+++ b/hw/integratorcp.c
@@ -544,4 +544,5 @@ QEMUMachine integratorcp_machine = {
     .desc = "ARM Integrator/CP (ARM926EJ-S)",
     .init = integratorcp_init,
     .ram_require = 0x100000,
+    .max_cpus = 1,
 };
diff --git a/hw/mainstone.c b/hw/mainstone.c
index 52485cecd21e7e3ed37aca2356b53afa9730ff8b..f4feb4fe2ae92a01e7612b80c7d8c2ad67d5593d 100644
--- a/hw/mainstone.c
+++ b/hw/mainstone.c
@@ -149,4 +149,5 @@ QEMUMachine mainstone2_machine = {
     .init = mainstone_init,
     .ram_require = (MAINSTONE_RAM + MAINSTONE_ROM + 2 * MAINSTONE_FLASH +
 		    PXA2XX_INTERNAL_SIZE) | RAMSIZE_FIXED,
+    .max_cpus = 1,
 };
diff --git a/hw/mcf5208.c b/hw/mcf5208.c
index 3e0a8117519d2975c47960a34ab97adcaf200e1e..fe3566ee0f6b0e562cb9801debcd070e4a4d9647 100644
--- a/hw/mcf5208.c
+++ b/hw/mcf5208.c
@@ -309,4 +309,5 @@ QEMUMachine mcf5208evb_machine = {
     .desc = "MCF5206EVB",
     .init = mcf5208evb_init,
     .ram_require = 16384,
+    .max_cpus = 1,
 };
diff --git a/hw/mips_jazz.c b/hw/mips_jazz.c
index b332a4598e2b2e4d499dbf450afc9b8ddde40cf1..68e63ff436b5518cf340e2b029e84844679c5aff 100644
--- a/hw/mips_jazz.c
+++ b/hw/mips_jazz.c
@@ -278,6 +278,7 @@ QEMUMachine mips_magnum_machine = {
     .init = mips_magnum_init,
     .ram_require = MAGNUM_BIOS_SIZE + VGA_RAM_SIZE,
     .nodisk_ok = 1,
+    .max_cpus = 1,
 };
 
 QEMUMachine mips_pica61_machine = {
@@ -286,4 +287,5 @@ QEMUMachine mips_pica61_machine = {
     .init = mips_pica61_init,
     .ram_require = MAGNUM_BIOS_SIZE + VGA_RAM_SIZE,
     .nodisk_ok = 1,
+    .max_cpus = 1,
 };
diff --git a/hw/mips_malta.c b/hw/mips_malta.c
index 629e91470bc425b32fa2f475ca635aa4977a8a24..e1999d52e6af56ed08ff9bdf2228f8d947f9f3f8 100644
--- a/hw/mips_malta.c
+++ b/hw/mips_malta.c
@@ -950,4 +950,5 @@ QEMUMachine mips_malta_machine = {
     .init = mips_malta_init,
     .ram_require = VGA_RAM_SIZE + BIOS_SIZE,
     .nodisk_ok = 1,
+    .max_cpus = 1,
 };
diff --git a/hw/mips_mipssim.c b/hw/mips_mipssim.c
index dc62f696a038fc4760ac4c8b1c3e553cd2c414f7..bd5266ad846a0df77d00b9b80f18d4ca3696f7ff 100644
--- a/hw/mips_mipssim.c
+++ b/hw/mips_mipssim.c
@@ -196,4 +196,5 @@ QEMUMachine mips_mipssim_machine = {
     .init = mips_mipssim_init,
     .ram_require = BIOS_SIZE + VGA_RAM_SIZE /* unused */,
     .nodisk_ok = 1,
+    .max_cpus = 1,
 };
diff --git a/hw/mips_r4k.c b/hw/mips_r4k.c
index 6551b02e0bbac934fa96da2b8d69c3c946329dec..399f452a8d6f505833fd08ce6b28a0baa7b6ad06 100644
--- a/hw/mips_r4k.c
+++ b/hw/mips_r4k.c
@@ -287,4 +287,5 @@ QEMUMachine mips_machine = {
     .init = mips_r4k_init,
     .ram_require = VGA_RAM_SIZE + BIOS_SIZE,
     .nodisk_ok = 1,
+    .max_cpus = 1,
 };
diff --git a/hw/musicpal.c b/hw/musicpal.c
index ccea19fe24f8f6a0ec9ac732b1d528afa93f905a..cee34680544a6114e158af02b93619d35e5c95ef 100644
--- a/hw/musicpal.c
+++ b/hw/musicpal.c
@@ -1513,4 +1513,5 @@ QEMUMachine musicpal_machine = {
     .desc = "Marvell 88w8618 / MusicPal (ARM926EJ-S)",
     .init = musicpal_init,
     .ram_require = MP_RAM_DEFAULT_SIZE + MP_SRAM_SIZE + MP_FLASH_SIZE_MAX + RAMSIZE_FIXED,
+    .max_cpus = 1,
 };
diff --git a/hw/nseries.c b/hw/nseries.c
index ec56fad9526f1f729b2eecc4d788b819b3412a89..3fd8099aae11c201fdd4612796a9ac40c6508496 100644
--- a/hw/nseries.c
+++ b/hw/nseries.c
@@ -1408,6 +1408,7 @@ QEMUMachine n800_machine = {
     .desc = "Nokia N800 tablet aka. RX-34 (OMAP2420)",
     .init = n800_init,
     .ram_require = (0x08000000 + 0x00010000 + OMAP242X_SRAM_SIZE) | RAMSIZE_FIXED,
+    .max_cpus = 1,
 };
 
 QEMUMachine n810_machine = {
@@ -1415,4 +1416,5 @@ QEMUMachine n810_machine = {
     .desc = "Nokia N810 tablet aka. RX-44 (OMAP2420)",
     .init = n810_init,
     .ram_require = (0x08000000 + 0x00010000 + OMAP242X_SRAM_SIZE) | RAMSIZE_FIXED,
+    .max_cpus = 1,
 };
diff --git a/hw/palm.c b/hw/palm.c
index 79ea3a77fc2538f741c637dcf0bfa1ea3af0964f..b45cdd645251772cd50a03d59dacc7bcdee5a8ba 100644
--- a/hw/palm.c
+++ b/hw/palm.c
@@ -286,4 +286,5 @@ QEMUMachine palmte_machine = {
     .desc = "Palm Tungsten|E aka. Cheetah PDA (OMAP310)",
     .init = palmte_init,
     .ram_require = (0x02000000 + 0x00800000 + OMAP15XX_SRAM_SIZE) | RAMSIZE_FIXED,
+    .max_cpus = 1,
 };
diff --git a/hw/pc.c b/hw/pc.c
index e7cba9a6453b65da8137291573af3a3736cab9b7..34683e7920194fffea41136452c167d4efebd1e7 100644
--- a/hw/pc.c
+++ b/hw/pc.c
@@ -1097,6 +1097,7 @@ QEMUMachine pc_machine = {
     .desc = "Standard PC",
     .init = pc_init_pci,
     .ram_require = VGA_RAM_SIZE + PC_MAX_BIOS_SIZE,
+    .max_cpus = 255,
 };
 
 QEMUMachine isapc_machine = {
@@ -1104,4 +1105,5 @@ QEMUMachine isapc_machine = {
     .desc = "ISA-only PC",
     .init = pc_init_isa,
     .ram_require = VGA_RAM_SIZE + PC_MAX_BIOS_SIZE,
+    .max_cpus = 1,
 };
diff --git a/hw/ppc405_boards.c b/hw/ppc405_boards.c
index c7a69596c7fc5372085c426ed7d22339e1c1bafd..a83f28e9b9b420bc3ce3cfbf4fe88fc0f0c16deb 100644
--- a/hw/ppc405_boards.c
+++ b/hw/ppc405_boards.c
@@ -359,6 +359,7 @@ QEMUMachine ref405ep_machine = {
     .desc = "ref405ep",
     .init = ref405ep_init,
     .ram_require = (128 * 1024 * 1024 + 4096 + 512 * 1024 + BIOS_SIZE) | RAMSIZE_FIXED,
+    .max_cpus = 1,
 };
 
 /*****************************************************************************/
diff --git a/hw/ppc_chrp.c b/hw/ppc_chrp.c
index 140541f0b0158896e9b1db2cf08ed8a4fbe33657..ede2924ed76a2b1f869121b3d5b856b0d0c2fa12 100644
--- a/hw/ppc_chrp.c
+++ b/hw/ppc_chrp.c
@@ -335,4 +335,5 @@ QEMUMachine core99_machine = {
     .desc = "Mac99 based PowerMAC",
     .init = ppc_core99_init,
     .ram_require = BIOS_SIZE + VGA_RAM_SIZE,
+    .max_cpus = 1,
 };
diff --git a/hw/ppc_oldworld.c b/hw/ppc_oldworld.c
index 15e8022488b5aa6826cae4c441cea00c8c1e8e80..75faeb3c44249beb9f716d849d0ccad927cf577f 100644
--- a/hw/ppc_oldworld.c
+++ b/hw/ppc_oldworld.c
@@ -370,4 +370,5 @@ QEMUMachine heathrow_machine = {
     .desc = "Heathrow based PowerMAC",
     .init = ppc_heathrow_init,
     .ram_require = BIOS_SIZE + VGA_RAM_SIZE,
+    .max_cpus = 1,
 };
diff --git a/hw/ppc_prep.c b/hw/ppc_prep.c
index a955909eea9b0b16bae20ca5f85c391afbd5ee70..944935d2988e855c3af17d900a31946f12cd09e2 100644
--- a/hw/ppc_prep.c
+++ b/hw/ppc_prep.c
@@ -762,4 +762,5 @@ QEMUMachine prep_machine = {
     .desc = "PowerPC PREP platform",
     .init = ppc_prep_init,
     .ram_require = BIOS_SIZE + VGA_RAM_SIZE,
+    .max_cpus = 1,
 };
diff --git a/hw/r2d.c b/hw/r2d.c
index 855aa414ff50c5460a0da78e333bdce075132168..58c93e89932f4b988808356b95fb0a696159e94e 100644
--- a/hw/r2d.c
+++ b/hw/r2d.c
@@ -168,4 +168,5 @@ QEMUMachine r2d_machine = {
     .desc = "r2d-plus board",
     .init = r2d_init,
     .ram_require = SDRAM_SIZE | RAMSIZE_FIXED,
+    .max_cpus = 1,
 };
diff --git a/hw/realview.c b/hw/realview.c
index a9d20edc525520656210432e8c3ce1f3508f8c75..14c001ecdd9bac25ae5367ba77216039df32d081 100644
--- a/hw/realview.c
+++ b/hw/realview.c
@@ -202,4 +202,5 @@ QEMUMachine realview_machine = {
     .init = realview_init,
     .ram_require = 0x1000,
     .use_scsi = 1,
+    .max_cpus = 1,
 };
diff --git a/hw/shix.c b/hw/shix.c
index 140efe90a5fe06a028204ae187e8cc9757c6b95d..3cc41fb830f3993ae6e599dcbe593f8bff9301dd 100644
--- a/hw/shix.c
+++ b/hw/shix.c
@@ -112,4 +112,5 @@ QEMUMachine shix_machine = {
     .desc = "shix card",
     .init = shix_init,
     .ram_require = (0x00004000 + 0x01000000 + 0x01000000) | RAMSIZE_FIXED,
+    .max_cpus = 1,
 };
diff --git a/hw/spitz.c b/hw/spitz.c
index fc7717460ea40a2fd096343315185c052e654b0c..36b490dce8518aa1e17cf6ae1587148a4e58acc8 100644
--- a/hw/spitz.c
+++ b/hw/spitz.c
@@ -1014,6 +1014,7 @@ QEMUMachine akitapda_machine = {
     .desc = "Akita PDA (PXA270)",
     .init = akita_init,
     .ram_require = SPITZ_RAM + SPITZ_ROM + PXA2XX_INTERNAL_SIZE + RAMSIZE_FIXED,
+    .max_cpus = 1,
 };
 
 QEMUMachine spitzpda_machine = {
@@ -1021,6 +1022,7 @@ QEMUMachine spitzpda_machine = {
     .desc = "Spitz PDA (PXA270)",
     .init = spitz_init,
     .ram_require = SPITZ_RAM + SPITZ_ROM + PXA2XX_INTERNAL_SIZE + RAMSIZE_FIXED,
+    .max_cpus = 1,
 };
 
 QEMUMachine borzoipda_machine = {
@@ -1028,6 +1030,7 @@ QEMUMachine borzoipda_machine = {
     .desc = "Borzoi PDA (PXA270)",
     .init = borzoi_init,
     .ram_require = SPITZ_RAM + SPITZ_ROM + PXA2XX_INTERNAL_SIZE + RAMSIZE_FIXED,
+    .max_cpus = 1,
 };
 
 QEMUMachine terrierpda_machine = {
@@ -1035,4 +1038,5 @@ QEMUMachine terrierpda_machine = {
     .desc = "Terrier PDA (PXA270)",
     .init = terrier_init,
     .ram_require = SPITZ_RAM + SPITZ_ROM + PXA2XX_INTERNAL_SIZE + RAMSIZE_FIXED,
+    .max_cpus = 1,
 };
diff --git a/hw/stellaris.c b/hw/stellaris.c
index 5948079e171fe1bdb7a45f03dd382cd626cc363e..4645bd6fb4ff098a6eed5cf5a8d410fa33d2cf81 100644
--- a/hw/stellaris.c
+++ b/hw/stellaris.c
@@ -1417,6 +1417,7 @@ QEMUMachine lm3s811evb_machine = {
     .desc = "Stellaris LM3S811EVB",
     .init = lm3s811evb_init,
     .ram_require = (64 * 1024 + 8 * 1024) | RAMSIZE_FIXED,
+    .max_cpus = 1,
 };
 
 QEMUMachine lm3s6965evb_machine = {
@@ -1424,4 +1425,5 @@ QEMUMachine lm3s6965evb_machine = {
     .desc = "Stellaris LM3S6965EVB",
     .init = lm3s6965evb_init,
     .ram_require = (256 * 1024 + 64 * 1024) | RAMSIZE_FIXED,
+    .max_cpus = 1,
 };
diff --git a/hw/sun4m.c b/hw/sun4m.c
index 079439a46fc594a61d620d0a06b2c1085aed81c9..dd0433afca3876719f007a3af48797173955f8c1 100644
--- a/hw/sun4m.c
+++ b/hw/sun4m.c
@@ -1291,6 +1291,7 @@ QEMUMachine ss5_machine = {
     .ram_require = PROM_SIZE_MAX + TCX_SIZE,
     .nodisk_ok = 1,
     .use_scsi = 1,
+    .max_cpus = 16,
 };
 
 QEMUMachine ss10_machine = {
@@ -1300,6 +1301,7 @@ QEMUMachine ss10_machine = {
     .ram_require = PROM_SIZE_MAX + TCX_SIZE,
     .nodisk_ok = 1,
     .use_scsi = 1,
+    .max_cpus = 16,
 };
 
 QEMUMachine ss600mp_machine = {
@@ -1309,6 +1311,7 @@ QEMUMachine ss600mp_machine = {
     .ram_require = PROM_SIZE_MAX + TCX_SIZE,
     .nodisk_ok = 1,
     .use_scsi = 1,
+    .max_cpus = 16,
 };
 
 QEMUMachine ss20_machine = {
@@ -1318,6 +1321,7 @@ QEMUMachine ss20_machine = {
     .ram_require = PROM_SIZE_MAX + TCX_SIZE,
     .nodisk_ok = 1,
     .use_scsi = 1,
+    .max_cpus = 16,
 };
 
 QEMUMachine ss2_machine = {
@@ -1327,6 +1331,7 @@ QEMUMachine ss2_machine = {
     .ram_require = PROM_SIZE_MAX + TCX_SIZE,
     .nodisk_ok = 1,
     .use_scsi = 1,
+    .max_cpus = 16,
 };
 
 QEMUMachine voyager_machine = {
@@ -1336,6 +1341,7 @@ QEMUMachine voyager_machine = {
     .ram_require = PROM_SIZE_MAX + TCX_SIZE,
     .nodisk_ok = 1,
     .use_scsi = 1,
+    .max_cpus = 16,
 };
 
 QEMUMachine ss_lx_machine = {
@@ -1345,6 +1351,7 @@ QEMUMachine ss_lx_machine = {
     .ram_require = PROM_SIZE_MAX + TCX_SIZE,
     .nodisk_ok = 1,
     .use_scsi = 1,
+    .max_cpus = 16,
 };
 
 QEMUMachine ss4_machine = {
@@ -1354,6 +1361,7 @@ QEMUMachine ss4_machine = {
     .ram_require = PROM_SIZE_MAX + TCX_SIZE,
     .nodisk_ok = 1,
     .use_scsi = 1,
+    .max_cpus = 16,
 };
 
 QEMUMachine scls_machine = {
@@ -1363,6 +1371,7 @@ QEMUMachine scls_machine = {
     .ram_require = PROM_SIZE_MAX + TCX_SIZE,
     .nodisk_ok = 1,
     .use_scsi = 1,
+    .max_cpus = 16,
 };
 
 QEMUMachine sbook_machine = {
@@ -1372,6 +1381,7 @@ QEMUMachine sbook_machine = {
     .ram_require = PROM_SIZE_MAX + TCX_SIZE,
     .nodisk_ok = 1,
     .use_scsi = 1,
+    .max_cpus = 16,
 };
 
 static const struct sun4d_hwdef sun4d_hwdefs[] = {
@@ -1620,6 +1630,7 @@ QEMUMachine ss1000_machine = {
     .ram_require = PROM_SIZE_MAX + TCX_SIZE,
     .nodisk_ok = 1,
     .use_scsi = 1,
+    .max_cpus = 16,
 };
 
 QEMUMachine ss2000_machine = {
@@ -1629,4 +1640,5 @@ QEMUMachine ss2000_machine = {
     .ram_require = PROM_SIZE_MAX + TCX_SIZE,
     .nodisk_ok = 1,
     .use_scsi = 1,
+    .max_cpus = 16,
 };
diff --git a/hw/sun4u.c b/hw/sun4u.c
index 87669ea0945babd470f9b7ca4a6bfbba27e45e91..a70ad201ab7a7fe2967d707e43295a624e0780ce 100644
--- a/hw/sun4u.c
+++ b/hw/sun4u.c
@@ -589,6 +589,7 @@ QEMUMachine sun4u_machine = {
     .init = sun4u_init,
     .ram_require = PROM_SIZE_MAX + VGA_RAM_SIZE,
     .nodisk_ok = 1,
+    .max_cpus = 16,
 };
 
 QEMUMachine sun4v_machine = {
@@ -597,6 +598,7 @@ QEMUMachine sun4v_machine = {
     .init = sun4v_init,
     .ram_require = PROM_SIZE_MAX + VGA_RAM_SIZE,
     .nodisk_ok = 1,
+    .max_cpus = 16,
 };
 
 QEMUMachine niagara_machine = {
@@ -605,4 +607,5 @@ QEMUMachine niagara_machine = {
     .init = niagara_init,
     .ram_require = PROM_SIZE_MAX + VGA_RAM_SIZE,
     .nodisk_ok = 1,
+    .max_cpus = 16,
 };
diff --git a/hw/tosa.c b/hw/tosa.c
index 75df52ec7d28941a29be7c17ab778d9f3f6e2675..e7b2be31e45e6971db539fd7edf9195783cc95f6 100644
--- a/hw/tosa.c
+++ b/hw/tosa.c
@@ -123,4 +123,5 @@ QEMUMachine tosapda_machine = {
     .desc = "Tosa PDA (PXA255)",
     .init = tosa_init,
     .ram_require = TOSA_RAM + TOSA_ROM + PXA2XX_INTERNAL_SIZE + RAMSIZE_FIXED,
+    .max_cpus = 1,
 };
diff --git a/hw/versatilepb.c b/hw/versatilepb.c
index f9e9988fc6a71ef784ac2270c5dc10c43ca6316b..c4c867d0f6d3052376596afff5afbe6bf1cb294d 100644
--- a/hw/versatilepb.c
+++ b/hw/versatilepb.c
@@ -320,6 +320,7 @@ QEMUMachine versatilepb_machine = {
     .desc = "ARM Versatile/PB (ARM926EJ-S)",
     .init = vpb_init,
     .use_scsi = 1,
+    .max_cpus = 1,
 };
 
 QEMUMachine versatileab_machine = {
@@ -327,4 +328,5 @@ QEMUMachine versatileab_machine = {
     .desc = "ARM Versatile/AB (ARM926EJ-S)",
     .init = vab_init,
     .use_scsi = 1,
+    .max_cpus = 1,
 };
diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index 439d31778431b2d178cc75b769ff4d990a74ec04..5fe288e08612c113911e9ded463ce0692814b2a1 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -213,13 +213,6 @@ int usb_enabled = 0;
 static VLANState *first_vlan;
 int smp_cpus = 1;
 const char *vnc_display;
-#if defined(TARGET_SPARC)
-#define MAX_CPUS 16
-#elif defined(TARGET_I386)
-#define MAX_CPUS 255
-#else
-#define MAX_CPUS 1
-#endif
 int acpi_enabled = 1;
 int fd_bootchk = 1;
 int no_reboot = 0;
@@ -9195,7 +9188,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
                 break;
             case QEMU_OPTION_smp:
                 smp_cpus = atoi(optarg);
-                if (smp_cpus < 1 || smp_cpus > MAX_CPUS) {
+                if (smp_cpus < 1) {
                     fprintf(stderr, "Invalid number of CPUs\n");
                     exit(1);
                 }
@@ -9312,6 +9305,13 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
         }
     }
 
+    if (smp_cpus > machine->max_cpus) {
+        fprintf(stderr, "Number of SMP cpus requested (%d), exceeds max cpus "
+                "supported by machine `%s' (%d)\n", smp_cpus,  machine->name,
+                machine->max_cpus);
+        exit(1);
+    }
+
     if (nographic) {
        if (serial_device_index == 0)
            serial_devices[0] = "stdio";